Salient Features of Kingdoms of Domain Eukarya

Domain Eukarya includes all eukaryotic organisms. These organisms have:
- True nucleus enclosed by a nuclear membrane
- Membrane-bound organelles (e.g., mitochondria, ER, Golgi bodies)
- Can be unicellular or multicellular

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The four kingdoms under Eukarya are:
1. Protista
2. Fungi
3. Plantae
4. Animalia

1. Kingdom Protista

- Unicellular, colonial, filamentous, or simple multicellular eukaryotes
- Simple multicellular: do not form multicellular sex organs
- Mostly aquatic

Major Groups of Protists:

1. Protozoa (Animal-like protists)
   - Unicellular and heterotrophic
   - Move by cilia, flagella, or pseudopodia
   - Examples: *Amoeba*, *Paramecium*, *Plasmodium*, *Trypanosoma*

2. Algae (Plant-like protists)
   - Have chlorophyll, perform photosynthesis
   - Cell wall of cellulose
   - Examples: *Euglena*, *Diatoms*

3. Myxomycota and Oomycota (Fungus-like protists)
   - Form hyphae-like structures, are saprophytic
   - Examples: *Slime molds*, *Water molds*

Important Note:Some protists are parasitic and cause diseases like:
- *Malaria* – caused by *Plasmodium*
- *Amoebic dysentery* – caused by *Entamoeba histolytica*
- *Sleeping sickness* – caused by *Trypanosoma*

2. Kingdom Fungi

- Eukaryotic and heterotrophic
- May be unicellular (e.g., yeasts) or multicellular (e.g., molds)
- Cell wall made of chitin
- Absorb nutrients from surroundings (saprophytic or parasitic)
- Do not ingest food like animals

#Major Groups of Fungi:

1. Zygomycota
   - Hyphae without septa (coenocytic)
   - Example: *Rhizopus* (bread mold)

2. Ascomycota
   - Septate hyphae, largest fungal group
   - Examples: *Morels*, *Truffles*, *Yeasts*, *Neurospora*
   - Found in lichens and mycorrhizae

3. Basidiomycota
   - Septate hyphae
   - Examples: *Mushrooms*, *Toadstools*, *Puffballs*, *Rusts*, *Smuts*

# Economic Importance:

- Used in bread, cheese, and beer production
- Source of antibiotics (e.g., *Penicillin* from *Penicillium*)
- About 100,000 known species

#3. Kingdom Plantae

- Eukaryotic, multicellular, autotrophic organisms
- Cell wall made of cellulose
- Perform photosynthesis using chlorophyll
- All plants develop from embryos

#Major Groups of Plants:

1. Non-Vascular Plants (Bryophytes)
   - Lack conducting tissues (xylem and phloem)
   - Examples: *Liverworts*, *Hornworts*, *Mosses*

2. Vascular Plants
   - Have xylem and phloem
   - Divided into:
     - Seedless vascular plants: e.g., *Ferns*
     - Seed plants: e.g., *Conifers*, *Flowering plants*

#4. Kingdom Animalia

- Eukaryotic, multicellular, heterotrophic organisms
- No cell wall
- Ingest and internally digest food
- All animals develop from embryos

Related Post

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